1977 Rock Anthem, Banned by the BBC, Became a Signature Hit Despite Never Reaching No. 1

Almost 50 years ago, one band released a controversial hit that became one of their most iconic tracks to date.

In spring 1977, British rock band the Stranglers released "Peaches," a song that was a huge topic of conversation thanks to its explicit lyrics, risqué themes, and provocative cover art. The track was banned by the BBC with the broadcaster refusing to air the song on its radio stations due to its crude nature, on the grounds of "coarse language and innuendo."

Per Louder Sound, the band was forbidden from playing the song during their debut on BBC's music TV show, Top of the Pops, and instead opted to play "Go Buddy Go" instead, despite "Peaches" being the group's latest release at the time and a toned-down version being recorded.

Despite the controversy, the song went on to become one of the Stranglers' most well-known hits, with the re-recorded version spending 14 weeks on the UK Singles chart and peaking at No. 8. However, the track never made it to the U.S. charts.

"Peaches" has also dominated the pop culture world, featuring on some prominent TV and movie soundtracks, including Sex Education, The Umbrella Academy, and Sexy Beast.

In a 2023 interview, the Stranglers' frontman Hugh Cronwell opened up about the famous track, which made waves in the UK punk rock scene.

"People would go: ‘I'm not sure about the lyrics to ‘Peaches.' A bit sexist.' The ones who said that had no sense of humor," the singer said, per Far Out.

The 1977 track wasn't the only song out of their discography to ruffle some feathers. The band's second studio album, No More Heroes, featured more than its fair share of controversial lyrics. "I Feel Like a Wog" and "Bring On the Nubiles" were often criticized for their racial slurs and misogynistic lyrics.

"It was like we discovered we had this ability, and we were using it," explained Cronwell. "Oh, we can wind people up. Great. Well, let's wind them up a bit more."

Related: 1960 Iconic Classic, Banned by Some Radio Stations, Became a No. 1 Hit

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 12:48 PM.